The FDA in 2005: Playing Dodge Ball With Women’s Bodies

by Cynthia Pearson, Executive Director
I thought I’d left dodge ball behind me in 6th grade. I was more of a bookworm than athlete and I hated dodge ball, mostly because it hurt like crazy when I got hit with the ball, which seemed to happen a lot. I knew that I should catch the ball when it hurtled at me, but I always got slammed instead. Imagine my surprise when the game became popular with adults, partly because of the movie ‘Dodge Ball’; now, apparently, there are teams, leagues and even championships. I seem to hear about dodge ball all the time.
I also realized I’ve started to feel a lot like I did when I played dodge ball — slammed — but this time the pain isn’t coming from a ball , but from being hit by news from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There’s been so much bad news from the FDA lately, I’m feeling as knocked around as I did in the gym. And I’m not the only one; in fact, my psychic bruises come from decisions that cause real harm to real women. Here are some of the latest hits:
The FDA turned down a request to make emergency contraceptive pills (EC) available without prescription, even after its own scientists unanimously agree that it’s safe. SLAM!
The FDA missed its own deadline to respond to a revised application to approve EC availability over-the-counter. SLAM!
The Bush Administration nominated Dr. Lester Crawford (who has been the FDA’s Acting Commissioner while it missed its own deadlines) to be the permanent Commissioner. SLAM!
The FDA spent 14 months trying unsuccessfully to persuade Vioxx’s manufacturer to warn that the pills can cause deadly heart attacks and strokes. In contrast, the FDA was quick to act on Depo Provera, insisting that the contraceptive shots carry the highest level of warning to inform women that bone loss is a common side effect that may cause lasting damage and fractures. SLAM!
A reporter used FDA files to show that reports of blood clots are three times more common in women using the Ortho birth control patch than in women exposed to the same hormones through the Pill. The FDA doesn’t have more specific information to help women decide if the patch is too dangerous. When the FDA approved the patch, its scientists asked the manufacturer to conduct a blood clot study, but when the company refused, the FDA gave up. SLAM!
Congress approved Dr. Crawford as permanent Commissioner after he promisedthe FDA would issue a decision about EC… nine months late. SLAM!
The FDA told Mentor Corporation its silicone breast implant is ‘approvable’, even though FDA scientists reported that Mentor hadn’t studied the implants long enough to answer questions about its long-term effects. SLAM!
Feeling a little beat up? Me too. Luckily, we can still fight back. Even though I personally was never very good at catching the ball in dodge ball, this is a whole new ball game. The NWHN is pretty darn good at reacting quickly and making a difference. Take a look at our website for the latest news on the patch, breast implants, EC and more .Join our activist alert system and help us to respond to the bad news coming our way and help protect women’s health. Together, we can dodge those balls!